The 2020 Nissan Titan Received This Brutally Honest Review

The truck segment is loaded with brutal competition and it isn’t getting any easier. Some automakers rule the truck market with best-selling trucks, while others struggle to simply keep up with the competition and truck owners are some of the most brand-loyal consumers on the market.

Nissan’s half-ton Titan pickup is redesigned for 2020 and more improved than ever before. But some experts brutally doubt the 2020 Nissan Titan‘s readiness to compete with America’s best-selling trucks.

2020 Nissan Titan updates

The Nissan Titan hasn’t had a major redesign in many years. In comparison to the competition, it has lagged in performance, features, and sales. But the new 2020 Nissan Titan “offers more presence and a number of technological improvements on its spec sheet,” according to Car and Driver. No matter the strides Nissan is making with the Titan, Car and Driver experts find that “these changes amount to little more than a reminder that Nissan’s full-sizer still exists.”

The 2020 Nissan Titan is available in two configurations and four trim levels. The only available powertrain is a 5.6-liter, eight-cylinder engine that creates 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Punchier than the last powertrain, the 2020 Nissan Titan can hit 60 mph in as little 5.7 seconds and tow as much as 9,370 lbs.

Nissan also made improvements to the interior in terms of comfort and technology. While the infotainment system and safety features are improved, the rear seat isn’t spacious and Car and Driver found many of the interior accents lend the 2020 Nissan Titan “an air of cheapness.”

Major critiques of the 2020 Nissan Titan updates

While Car and Driver experts find the new powertrain to be an improvement, the Titan still handles and rides with “less refinement” than other full-size pickups. In fact, Car and Driver found the steering on the 2020 Titan to be “heavy and uncommunicative.”

Car and Driver only give the 2020 Nissan Titan an overall rating of three out of five. But Car and Driver isn’t the only expert reviewer to believe the new Titan just simply cannot keep up with its biggest rivals. Consumer Reports, for example, rates the 2020 Nissan Titan with an average overall score of 58. The Titan received a below-average, two-out-of-five rating in predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. And while MotorTrend appreciated the updates with the Titan’s design and powertrain, it is simply “not class-leading.”

Where the Nissan Titan ranks among the competition

The Nissan Titan hasn’t come anywhere near matching the sales numbers of America’s biggest truck makers such as Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram. According to GoodCarBadCar, Nissan only sold 7,386 Titans through the third quarter of 2019. Ford, on the other hand, sold 214,176 F-Series trucks and Chevrolet sold 155,482 Silverados.

When it comes to available options, towing capacity, and performance, the Titan falls behind. Nissan has also never been able to match the brand-loyalty associated with the biggest truck makers in the country. For example, CNET reports that the 2020 Nissan Titan has received improved “safety features, and the updated design looks great.” But when given the choice over a best-selling truck like the F-150, Ram, or Silverado, the same experts “can’t imagine ever buying a Titan.”

Consumer Reports ranks the 2020 Nissan Titan near the top of the list of new full-size trucks. Many 2020 models have not yet been rated and tested, leading some to wonder if the Titan isn’t a bad truck, just simply not good enough.